This is a really solid fantasy title with a lot happening. Unique powers and capabilities that I personally have not come across before. Wrapped around thick political intrigue, we have gunpowder snorting Powder Mages that can do 'magics' with gunpowder and bullets. They lead a coup against a king who is worthless waste of space. Add into the mix some betrayals to investigate, some factions of Privileged and Predeii - very powerful magic wielders- and, oh hey, we have a bigger plot here than just the potential internal unrest following the king's demise. We potentially have the religious nuts trying to bring about something even bigger. Oh, how the plot thickens.
It was also very welcome to experience some very personal moments and struggles for the characters, it really helped humanize the whole story what with a very testosterone-fuelled plot.
Yeah, I quite enjoyed this one. I did have some pacing niggles, but that's only because of my own impatience as I wanted to just get n with things, but there was a lot of threads to move forward at any given time.
Will I read the sequel(s)? Yeah, sure, when the time is right. I did enjoy the book, but it didn't make me want to skip work and it didn't keep me up at night for a session in the dark, with bloodshot eyes.